Microsoft has officially released the much-awaited Windows 8.1, an update to its Windows 8 operating system. The upgrade was announced during a keynote speech at its annual developers conference in San Francisco. The free test version of the update is already available to download now while the full version will be released to users later this year.
So, what’s new in Windows 8.1?
Below is a list of new features Windows 8.1 users can expect.
- The start button on the desktop is back!
- The lock screen is being turned into a ‘cloud-powered photo frame’ that will display pictures stored on the device and in SkyDrive.
- A vastly improved ‘search’ function, which allows a user to search for documents, apps, or items on the Internet from a single search bar.
- Users will be able to see all their applications immediately, in a grid, by swiping down or pressing a button on-screen.
- There are new personalisation features for tiles including fonts and colours.
- Users can also customize the start screen much more easily. For example, users will be able to change the sizes of app icons or control which apps appear.
- Finally, it will be possible to open two windows simultaneously in the new-look interface.